Ever since Covid-19 was declared a pandemic on Jan. 30, 2020, it has claimed over 4 million lives, worldwide. The only way to come out of this crisis is through mass vaccinations which can help achieve herd immunity in different countries. Therefore, governments everywhere are working to establish effective vaccine rollouts that can combat the virus. However, as we make steady progress towards mass vaccinations, there is growing concern amongst many that the coronavirus vaccines do not offer 100% immunity against the novel coronavirus, as many cases of infections in vaccinated individuals are being reported across the world. For this reason, in this blog we answer all the pressing covid-19 vaccine questions for you.
Covid 19 Vaccine Questions
These are the vaccines currently available in Pakistan. In addition to infections reported in vaccinated individuals, doctors have also reported cases of extreme after effects of the coronavirus vaccine. These vaccines are causing after-effects which are dangerous and unmanageable for many. However, the after-effects do not mean in any way that people should stop getting vaccinated, as this is the only way we can come out of the pandemic.
FAQs Regarding Corona Vaccinations/Covid Vaccines
Let’s look at the common concerns people have about covid 19 vaccines, and the advice of health experts.
Can Vaccinated Individuals Get Infected?
Yes, in some cases experts note that vaccinated individuals can get infected. These are known as vaccine breakthrough cases, as the vaccine doesn’t provide 100% immunity. Despite the infections, the experts believe that infected individuals will be protected against their symptoms from worsening, and will not be hospitalized, in most of the cases.
Most of these vaccine breakthrough cases show no symptoms whatsoever, therefore, for these asymptomatic individuals it is hard to detect the infection at first. Therefore, health experts believe that people should keep wearing facemasks and maintain social distancing at all times.
What is Causing Infections in Fully Vaccinated Individuals?
Infections in fully-vaccinated individuals are being caused by variants which are not protected by the vaccines. This is because the success in finding the vaccines has been steady, compared with fastly mutating virus variants that require even more research for newer, more stronger vaccines to be created. But that is not to say that the current vaccines offer no protection against the novel coronavirus and its new strains. Experts in the United States have revealed that their vaccines Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna protect against most variants. Chinese experts have said the same for their vaccines such as Sinovac, Sinopharm, and CanSinoBio vaccines that are currently in circulation in Pakistan. However, peer reviews are underway for all vaccines to race against the deadly variants of coronavirus such as the deadly Delta variant. While concerns about the efficacy of vaccines remain rife, international and Pakistani experts have urged time and time again that getting inoculated is still far better than not getting shot with any of the available jabs.
After Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines
As the vaccine enters the body it completely resets your immune system. It takes any vaccine about a month to create antibodies, after the first shot is administered. Experts suggest the body is the most vulnerable after the first shot, for about a week as the body registers a new chemical body entering. From there then it takes about 3 weeks till the second dose, and another week to be fully capable of creating antibodies.
For this reason you might feel some after-effects of inoculation. Most common effects reported include: dizziness, headaches, diarrhea, chills, fever, body aches. Similarly, the site of the shot can also swell up, get red and cause stinging pain. These are normal symptoms, however, if they last for more than 10 days, it’s best to see a physician to completely understand what’s wrong and get your concerns addressed.
In some cases these effects have been noted after the first dose, while fewer have reported these after the second dose. Cases also differ between men and women, across different age groups, and of course the vaccine that you’ve been given.
This blog has been written with the sole purpose of addressing common concerns of people regarding Covid-19 vaccines and also to lend support to the government’s inoculation programs. If you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, here’s all you need to know about vaccination centers in Pakistan. Also, check out this blog on getting vaccinated in Pakistan.
Now is the time to get vaccinated, and you can find all the many ways the government is penalizing unvaccinated people, in this blog. If you have been vaccinated, here’s how you can get your NADRA certificate of vaccination.
For any queries feel free to reach out to us at blog@zameen.com. Also, keep checking Pakistan’s largest property blog, Zameen Blog for the latest news on Pakistan.
[Disclaimer: The medical information used in this blog has been primarily extracted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the world’s leading public health agencies, and the government of Pakistan’s National Command Operation Center (NCOC).]
